High temperature resistant heterocyclic-aromatic polymers. Synthesis, properties and applications

An outstanding achievement of organopolymer chemistry during the past two decades has been the successful development of high‐temperature‐resistant heteroaromatic polymers. The present account makes use of the data available on the synthesis, properties and applications of a relatively small yet typical group of these polymers in order to highlight the overall progress that has been made in the field. In particular it is shown that for one system, the polyimides, a combination of excellent thermal and environmental stability allied to a considerable flexibility and novelty of synthesis from relatively cheap precursors has resulted in a uniquely comprehensive range of commercial materials.